LATEST NEWS

Successful PhD Defense with Highest Honors for the Ponomarenko Lab
06.05.2025

We are thrilled to share that Mahsa Altafi, a PhD student from the Ponomarenko research group, has successfully defended her doctoral thesis and was awarded the distinction summa cum laude for her Dr. rer. nat. degree.

Her dissertation “Temporal Organization of Neuronal Ensembles Encoding Behavioral States” was praised by the reviewers and the examination committee for its novelty, scientific rigor, and conceptual clarity.

This exceptional achievement highlights not only her dedication and talent but also the strength of research training within the Ponomarenko lab. We warmly congratulate her on this major milestone and wish her continued success in her scientific career!

Nadja Treiber Receives 1st Prize at NWG Breaking News Award 2025
29.03.2025

We are pleased to announce that our PhD student, Nadja Treiber, in the lab group Alzheimer / Zheng has been awarded the 1st Prize (500 €) at the Breaking News’ Best Paper Award 2025 during the 16th Conference of the German Neuroscience Society (NWG) in Göttingen.

In her presentation, Nadja shared compelling results from her PhD research on the long-term effects of adolescent stress on synaptic transmission and plasticity. Her work was recognized for its scientific novelty, potential impact on future research, and the high quality of her presentation – criteria that underscore the award’s commitment to supporting young researchers in neuroscience.

This recognition not only reflects the excellence of her research but also emphasizes the importance of understanding how adolescent stress affects brain function persistently. Her project sheds light on the mechanisms of synaptic adaptation and vulnerability following adolescent stress into adulthood, with implications for mental health research.

We warmly congratulate Nadja Treiber on this outstanding achievement and look forward to further exciting results as her PhD project progresses!